Partners and friends

Amiral de Coligny

The Amiral de Coligny association was founded in the early 1920’s by Pastor Stuart Roussel, at the time when he was converting the estate into a heliotherapy sanatorium to treat patients suffering from tuberculosis. The chairman of the association was Mr Delille. On 1 January 1922, it was recognized as a non-profit association. Since then it has remained the owner of the estate, but management has been entrusted to various associations. Today A Rocha manages the estate in collaboration with Amiral de Coligny, under the chairmanship of Mr Maurice Dumas-Lairolle.

CIDENA and ARFI

The estate includes a large old building full of character. Renovation work is thus needed, involving considerable investment. A Rocha has entrusted CIDENA (Compagnie Internationale pour le Développement et la Nature) with the management of commercial activities likely to provide the association with additional income from rent.

In 2015, ARFI (A Rocha France Initiatives), a non-profit association has replaced CIDENA, and is responsible for managing the commercial income from weddings, family celebrations and other seminars.

Courmettes farms

Sheep and goats play an important role on the estate, helping to maintain the pastures and undergrowth in a manner compatible with wildlife.

Sheep: Didier Fischer and Valentine Guérin raise around 500 ewes and sell lamb and wool. Didier organises sheepdog training and competitions for border collies. For more information see www.border06.com.

Goats: Bruno Gabelier raises around 100 goats and some ewes. He has won prizes for his organic cheeses. It is possible to visit the cheese making facility. For more information see this webpage.

Other partners

CRPF (Centre régional de la propriété forestière): we work together on forest management on the estate. www.ofme.org/crpf

CEN PACA (Conservatoire des espaces naturels): for many years CEN PACA has helped those managing Courmettes to put in place an environmental management plan. www.cen-paca.org